I had lunch with the CEO of a major academic medical center today. He mentioned a key aspect of the culture of his top management team. In the conference room they use for weekly meetings, they have a list of shared norms and ground rules up on the wall. He explained how these norms are very useful to help the team engage in productive dialogue and debate. Moreover, this leader expressed how important it was that the team members held him and each other accountable for adhering to these rules of engagement. If someone didn't behave in accordance with these norms, they could be gently, or perhaps not so gently, reminded about their unacceptable behavior. They could be told that they had violated a particular rule. This leader concluded by arguing that building the right culture means you have to be specific about the behaviors you expect. In addition, people have to hold each accountable for adhering to these behavioral norms. Peer-to-peer accountability is key.
Showing posts with label norms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label norms. Show all posts
Friday, January 13, 2017
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
How Norms are Set in Groups
The Wall Street Journal has a good article about the latest research regarding how norms are established in groups. We all know that pressures for conformity exist in groups, and the article examines that tendency in a variety of ways. I found the point regarding innovation to be the most interesting one. Here is an excerpt:
Researchers have studied how new ideas and innovations—whether the latest fashion, electronic gadget or slang word—are introduced and spread within a group. Individuals who innovate tend to be somewhat isolated from the rest of the group, researchers say. Being too much a part of a group may constrain one's ability to think outside of convention, says Christian Crandall, a professor of social psychology at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, who studies social norms. "There's a freedom to innovate" that comes with isolation, Dr. Crandall says. Though innovators may be isolated, the group often adopts their innovations because these new ideas or objects are an accessible way for members of the group to bond or signal solidarity. It could be a baseball cap worn backwards, or a pocket square. Each conveys a different identity. But before others will take up the new idea, someone central to the group, with more connections than the innovator, has to recognize it.
Researchers have studied how new ideas and innovations—whether the latest fashion, electronic gadget or slang word—are introduced and spread within a group. Individuals who innovate tend to be somewhat isolated from the rest of the group, researchers say. Being too much a part of a group may constrain one's ability to think outside of convention, says Christian Crandall, a professor of social psychology at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, who studies social norms. "There's a freedom to innovate" that comes with isolation, Dr. Crandall says. Though innovators may be isolated, the group often adopts their innovations because these new ideas or objects are an accessible way for members of the group to bond or signal solidarity. It could be a baseball cap worn backwards, or a pocket square. Each conveys a different identity. But before others will take up the new idea, someone central to the group, with more connections than the innovator, has to recognize it.
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